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Spain has once again caught the attention of pro-Russian hacker group NoName057, known across Europe for launching cyberattacks against public institutions. But this time, their latest attempt to disrupt Spanish networks has completely failed. According to the Ministry of the Interior, Spain’s security systems held firm, blocking the attacks before they could do any damage. The government has been ramping up its cybersecurity measures over the past year, investing in advanced technology to keep hackers like these at bay. Who are these hackers – and what were they after? The NoName057 collective, aligned with pro-Russian interests, has built a reputation for targeting European governments with DDoS attacks — digital assaults that flood websites with traffic to make them crash. In their latest wave, they claimed on Telegram to have gone after several Spanish institutions, including the City Councils of Seville, Ferrol, Benavente and A Coruña, the Provincial Councils of Valencia, Cáceres and Albacete, the Ministry for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, the Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz, and even the Canary Islands Parliament. Despite the dramatic announcement, none of the attacks succeeded. All the targeted websites continued to operate normally, showing that Spain’s cybersecurity response teams were quick to act. It’s not the first time the group has gone after Spain. During the European Summit in Granada in 2023, they managed to briefly take down several local administration sites – including the Granada Metro’s website – for a few minutes before systems were restored. Since then, Spain has stepped up its digital protection. Spain’s Interior Ministry strengthens its shield The failed attacks come as no surprise to Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, led by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, which has been preparing for such incidents for months. The ministry has made major investments in cybersecurity to counter the growing number of threats from pro-Russian groups. These new measures include cutting-edge detection systems designed to spot and neutralise threats before they escalate. Officials say that these updates have made it much harder for foreign hackers to compromise national or local government websites. “The reality is that cyberattacks are constant,” one cybersecurity analyst explained. “What matters is how fast you respond — and Spain’s response this time was textbook.” The government’s ultimate goal is to protect public institutions and keep digital services running smoothly, even when under attack. The Spanish link in a pro-Russian network There’s also a local connection in this story – and it’s a controversial one. Among the members of NoName057 is a Spanish university professor, Enrique Arias Gil, who remains on the run. Gil, who once taught in Spain, allegedly left the country after receiving a research scholarship and has since been living in Russia. Europol has issued an international arrest warrant for him, but so far, he’s managed to avoid capture. His name surfaced earlier this year, when police forces from ten European countries joined Spain’s National Police Information Headquarters in a large-scale operation that dismantled much of NoName057’s European leadership. While several members were arrested, Arias Gil escaped before the raids. Spanish police have even released his photograph publicly, hoping someone will come forward with information about his whereabouts. Spain stands firm against digital threats Although the hackers claimed success online, the facts tell another story – Spain’s cyber defences worked exactly as intended. Not a single major website went down, and government systems continued to function normally. The Ministry of the Interior says it will continue to reinforce its digital shield to stay ahead of cyber threats. As one insider summed it up: “Cyberattacks are the new battlefield – and Spain isn’t backing down.” Stay tuned with Euro Weekly News for more news from Spain
